Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

PM and Defence Minister to visit Solomons

15 September 2003 Media Statement

PM and Defence Minister to visit Solomons


Prime Minister Helen Clark and Defence Minister Mark Burton will visit the Solomons next week.

The Prime Minister and Defence Minister will travel to the Solomons on a RNZAF Hercules taking supplies and personnel to Honiara. They leave next Monday and return to New Zealand on Wednesday.

Helen Clark said the trip will allow her and Mr Burton to observe the work being undertaken by the New Zealand police and defence personnel. She will also meet Solomons Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza and other leaders, and meet the leadership of the Regional Assistance Mission. With the Hercules travelling via Port Vila in Vanuatu, the Prime Minister will also meet with Vanuatu leaders.

“The Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands has been underway since late July and has made good progress in its efforts to restore the rule of law with the arrest of key figures like Harold Keke.

“This visit provides an opportunity for us to evaluate first-hand the good work that is being done by the New Zealanders and other nations involved in the Mission, and to discuss with the Solomon Island government what further assistance might be required.”

New Zealand has around 265 personnel attached to the Regional Assistance Mission comprising 35 police officers and 230 Defence Force personnel, The Defence Force contingent is made up of four helicopters and associated personnel, headquarters support staff, logistics, communications, an engineering element, an infantry company, and a small medical group.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

The Regional Assistance Mission in the Solomon Islands has been underway since July following a request for assistance to restore law and order from the Solomon Islands government.

Over 2000 police, military and civilian personnel from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea are currently serving there. It has the support of the Pacific Island Forum, the Commonwealth, and the United Nations.


ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The Government's Assault On Maori

This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that Luxon plans to roll back the progress made here over the past 40 years in race relations... More


 
 
Public Housing Futures: Christmas Comes Early For Landlords

New CTU analysis of the National & ACT coalition agreement has shown the cost of returning interest deductibility to landlords is an extra $900M on top of National’s original proposal. This is because it is going to be implemented earlier and faster, including retrospective rebates from April 2023. More


Green Party: Petition To Save Oil & Gas Ban

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. We need to come together to stop them,” says James Shaw. More

PSA: MFAT Must Reverse Decision To Remove Te Reo

MFAT's decision to remove te reo from correspondence before new Ministers are sworn in risks undermining the important progress the public sector has made in honouring te Tiriti. "We are very disappointed in what is a backward decision - it simply seems to be a Ministry bowing to the racist rhetoric we heard on the election campaign trail," says Marcia Puru. More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.